Cabinet assembly and assembly unit thereof

ABSTRACT

A cabinet assembly having at least one assembly unit and multiple cover plates. Each assembly unit has a tapered shell and mounting frame. The tapered shell is hollow and has a first end, a second end, multiple outer surfaces and multiple first fastener sets. A diameter of the second end is smaller than a diameter of the first end. Each multiple first fastener set is formed on a corresponding outer surface. The mounting frame is mounted around the second end of the tapered shell and has multiple exterior surfaces and multiple second fastener sets. Each exterior surface aligns with a corresponding outer surface of the tapered shell in a plane. Each second fastener set is formed on a corresponding exterior surface. The cover plates are detachably attached to the tapered shell and the mounting frame. The cabinet assembly is easily manufactured and assembled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage cabinet, and in particular to a cabinet assembly and assembly unit thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Cabinet assemblies are used in modern society for a wide variety of storage applications. Conventional cabinet assemblies have a set appearance, monotonous design and lack variation and taste so can not satisfy various decorative needs. On the other hand, most conventional cabinet assemblies are usually composed of multiple rectangular boards and multiple regular partitions, which are connected by fasteners, such as screws, and form multiple juxtaposing rectangular rooms. The boards and partitions of a conventional cabinet assembly need to be assembled with the fasteners one by one. Therefore, assemble of the conventional cabinet assemblies is awkward and complicated.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a cabinet assembly and assembly unit thereof to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide an assembly unit and cabinet assembly comprising thereof that has a design for easy manufacture and convenient assembly.

An assembly unit in accordance with the present invention comprises a tapered shell and a mounting frame.

The tapered shell is hollow and has a first end, a second end, multiple sidewalls, a polygonal collar and multiple first fastener sets. The first end has a diameter. The second end has a diameter. The diameter of the second end is smaller than the diameter of the first end. The sidewalls define a cavity. Each sidewall extend from the first end to the second end, has two borders and at least one mounting slot. The two borders are respectively connected to two adjacent sidewalls. The mounting slot is formed on the sidewall near the second end. The polygonal collar is attached to the sidewalls, extends from the first end toward the second end and has multiple outer surfaces. Each outer surface is opposite to a corresponding sidewall. Each first fastener set is formed on a corresponding outer surface of the polygonal collar.

The mounting frame is hollow, is mounted around the second end of the tapered shell and has multiple attaching surfaces, multiple exterior surfaces and multiple second fastener sets. The attaching surfaces define an opening for accommodating the second end of the tapered shell. Each attaching surface has at least one mounting projection. The mounting projection corresponds to and engages with a corresponding mounting slot to connect the mounting frame and the tapered shell. Each exterior surface aligns with a corresponding outer surface of the polygonal collar of the tapered shell in a plane. Each second fastener set is formed on a corresponding exterior surface.

A cabinet assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one assembly unit as described above and multiple cover plates. The cover plates are detachably attached to the tapered shell and the mounting frame. Each cover plate has a body and multiple third fastener sets. The body has a front side, a rear side, a flat top surface and a bottom surface. The third fastener sets are respectively formed on the bottom surface at the front side and the rear side of the body. Each third fastener set at the front side of the body engages with a corresponding first fastener set of the polygonal collar; and each third fastener set at the rear side of the body engages with a corresponding second fastener set of the mounting frame.

The tapered shell is suitable for manufacture by injection molding and can be easily removed from a mold. The difference between the diameter of the first end and second end of the tapered shell is filled by the mounting frame. Therefore, each outer surface of the polygonal collar of the tapered shell aligns with a corresponding exterior surface of the mounting frame in a plane, so the assembly units can be assembled parallelly.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cabinet assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another exploded perspective view of the cabinet assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cabinet assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view in partial section of the cabinet assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view in cross section of the cabinet assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view in cross section of the cabinet assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front view of another cabinet assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another cabinet assembly in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a front view of the cabinet assembly in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a cabinet assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one assembly unit (10), multiple cover plates (20) and multiple decoration panels (30).

The assembly unit (10) has a tapered shell (40) and a mounting frame (50).

The tapered shell (40) is hollow and has a polygon shape in cross section, such as trigon, tetragon, petagon, hexagon and the like, a first end (411), a second end (412), multiple sidewalls (41), a polygonal collar (42) and multiple first fastener sets (43)(43′).

The first end (411) has a diameter. The second end (412) has a diameter. The diameter of the second end (412) is smaller than the diameter of the first end (411) and has a difference to the diameter of the first end (411). The tapered shell (40) preferably has six sidewalls (41).

Each sidewall (41) is trapezium, extends from the first end (411) to the second end (412) and has two borders and at least one mounting slot (44). The two borders of the sidewall (41) are respectively connected to two adjacent sidewalls (41). The sidewalls (41) together define a cavity. The cavity extends from the first end (411) toward the second end (412). The mounting slot (44) is formed near the second end (412) of the tapered shell (40).

The polygonal collar (42) is mounted around the sidewalls, extends out from the first end (411) toward the second end (412) and has multiple outer surfaces (421). Each outer surface (421) is opposite to a corresponding sidewall (41). At least one of the outer surfaces (421) of the polygonal collar (42) is parallel to the corresponding sidewall (421) thereof. The polygonal collar (42) may have a polygon shape in cross section, such as trigon, tetragon, pentagon, hexagon or the like.

Each first fastener set (43)(43′) is formed on a corresponding outer surface (421) of the polygonal collar (42) and has a male fastener (43A)(43C) and a female fastener (43B)(43D).

The mounting frame (50) is hollow, is mounted around the second end (412) of the tapered shell (40) and has a polygon shape in cross section, multiple attaching surfaces (51), multiple exterior surfaces (53) and multiple second fastener sets (54)(54′). The attaching surfaces (51) define an opening for accommodating the second end (412) of the tapered shell (40). Each attaching surface (51) abuts against a corresponding sidewall of the tapered shell (40) and has at least one mounting projection (52). The mounting projection (52) corresponds to and engages the mounting slot (44) to connect the mounting frame (50) and the tapered shell (40). With reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, each exterior surface (53) aligns with a corresponding outer surface (421) of the polygonal collar (42) of the tapered shell (40) in a plane. Each second fastener set (54)(54′) is formed on a corresponding exterior surface (53) and has a male fastener (54A)(54C) and a female fastener (54B)(54D).

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 6, the cover plates (20) are detachably attached to the tapered shell (40) and the mounting frame (50) and has a body (21) and multiple third fastener sets (22). The body (21) has a front side, a rear side, a flat top surface and a bottom surface. The third fastener sets (22) are respectively formed on the bottom surface at the front side and the rear side of the body (21) and each third fastener set (22) has a male fastener (22A) and a female fastener (22B). The third fastener set (22) at the front side of the body (21) engages a corresponding first fastener set (43) of the polygonal collar (42). The third fastener set (22) at the rear side of the body (21) engages a corresponding second fastener set (54) of the mounting frame (50). When the cover plate (20) is attached to the assembly unit (10), the flat top surface allows the assembly unit (10) to stand stably on a surface.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, the decoration panels (30) are detachably attached to the tapered shell (40) and the mounting frame (50) and has a base (31) and multiple fourth fastener sets (33). The base (31) has a front side, a rear side and multiple through holes (32). The fourth fastener sets (33) are respectively formed at the front side and the rear side of the base (31). Each fourth fastener (33) has a male fastener (33A) and a female fastener (33B). Each fourth fastener set (33) at the front side of the base (31) engages a corresponding first fastener set (43′) of the polygonal collar (42). Each fourth fastener set (33) at the rear side of the base (31) engages a corresponding second fastener set (54′) of the mounting frame (50).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the female fastener (22B)(33B)(43B)(43D)(54B)(54D) has a trench; and the male fastener (22A)(33A)(43A)(43C)(54A)(54C) has a post. The post of the male fastener (22A)(33A)(43A)(43C)(54A)(54C) corresponds to in shape and is selectively mounted in the trench of the female fastener (22B)(33B)(43B)(43D)(54B)(54D).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIG. 1, the tapered shell (40) further has multiple reinforcing ribs (45). The reinforcing ribs (45) protrude from the tapered shell (40) toward the cavity between the sidewalls (41) and extend from the front sides to the rear sides of the sidewalls (41) to strengthen the tapered shell (40).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the assembly unit (10) further has a partition (60). The partition (60) is mounted in the cavity inside the tapered shell (40) and has two ends. The two ends of the partition (60) are respectively attached to the tapered shell (40) to divide the cavity inside the tapered shell (40) into two.

With reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, an assembly unit (10) is attached to an adjacent assembly unit (10), wherein a first fastener set (43)(43′) of the assembly unit (10) engages a corresponding first fastener set (43)(43′) in the adjacent assembly unit (10); and a second fastener (54)(54′) of the assembly unit (10) engages a corresponding second fastener set (54)(54′) in the adjacent assembly unit (10), whereby the cabinet assembly is formed as a honeycomb.

In accordance with the present invention, the tapered shell (40) can be easily made by injection molding and removed from a mold. The difference between the diameter of the first end (411) and second end (412) of the tapered shell (40) is filled by the mounting frame (50). Therefore, each outer surface (421) of the polygonal collar (42) of the tapered shell (40) aligns with a corresponding exterior surface (53) of the mounting frame (50) in a plane so the assembly units (10) can be assembled in parallelly.

Based on structure of the assembly unit (10) and the cabinet assembly in accordance with the present invention, the cabinet assembly can be arbitrarily assembled and stably stood on a plane since at least one of the multiple sidewalls of the tapered shell is parallel to the corresponding outer surface of the polygonal collar thereof. 

1. A cabinet assembly comprising: at least one assembly unit, each one of the at least one assembly unit comprising: a tapered shell formed hollow and having a first end having a diameter; a second end having a diameter, the diameter of the second end smaller than the diameter of the first end; multiple sidewalls defining a cavity, each sidewall extending from the first end to the second end and having two borders respectively connected to two adjacent sidewalls; and at least one mounting slot formed on the sidewall near the second end; a polygonal collar attached to the sidewalls, extending from the first end toward the second end and having multiple outer surfaces, each outer surface opposite to a corresponding sidewall; and multiple first fastener sets, each first fastener set formed on a corresponding outer surface of the polygonal collar; and a mounting frame formed hollow, mounted around the second end of the tapered shell and having multiple attaching surfaces defining an opening for accommodating the second end of the tapered shell, each attaching surface having at least one mounting projection corresponding to and engaging a corresponding mounting slot to connect the mounting frame and the tapered shell; multiple exterior surfaces, each exterior surface aligning with a corresponding outer surface of the polygonal collar of the tapered shell in a plane; multiple second fastener sets, each second fastener set formed on a corresponding exterior surface; and multiple cover plates detachably attached to the tapered shell of the at least one assembly unit and the mounting frame of the at least one assembly unit and each cover plate having a body having a front side; a rear side; a flat top surface; and a bottom surface; multiple third fastener sets respectively formed on the bottom surface at the front side and the rear side of the body of each cover plate, wherein each third fastener set at the front side of the body engages a corresponding first fastener set of the polygonal collar of a corresponding one of the at least one assembly unit; each third fastener set at the rear side of the body engages a corresponding second fastener set of the mounting frame of a corresponding one of the at least one assembly unit.
 2. The cabinet assembly of the claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple sidewalls of the tapered shell is parallel to the corresponding outer surface of the polygonal collar.
 3. The cabinet assembly of the claim 1 comprising multiple assembly units as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first fastener sets of one of the multiple assembly units engages a corresponding first fastener set of an adjacent assembly unit of the multiple assembly units; and one of the second fasteners of the one of the multiple assembly units engages a corresponding second fastener set in the adjacent assembly unit.
 4. The cabinet assembly of the claim 1, further comprising: multiple decoration panels detachably attached to the tapered shell and the mounting frame of one of the multiple assembly units and each decoration panel having a base mounted on the tapered shell and having a front side; a rear side; multiple through holes; and multiple fourth fastener sets respectively formed at the front side and the rear side of the base, wherein each fourth fastener set at the front side of the base engages a corresponding first fastener set of the polygonal collar of the tapered shell; and each fourth fastener set at the rear side of the base engages a corresponding second fastener set of the mounting frame.
 5. The cabinet assembly of the claim 1, wherein the tapered shell has six sidewalls; the mounting frame has a hexagon shape in cross section and six attaching surfaces, each attaching surface abutting against a corresponding sidewall of the tapered shell.
 6. The cabinet assembly of the claim 2, wherein the at least one assembly unit further comprises a partition dividing the cavity inside the tapered shell into two.
 7. The cabinet assembly of the claim 2, wherein each first fastener set has a male fastener and a female fastener; and each second fastener set has a male fastener and a female fastener.
 8. An assembly unit comprising: a tapered shell formed hollow and having a first end having a diameter; a second end having a diameter, the diameter of the second end smaller than the diameter of the first end; multiple sidewalls defining a cavity, each sidewall extending from the first end to the second end and having two borders respectively connected to two adjacent sidewalls; and at least one mounting slot formed on the sidewall near the second end; a polygonal collar attached to the sidewalls, extending from the first end toward the second end and having multiple outer surfaces, each outer surface opposite to a corresponding sidewall; and multiple first fastener sets, each first fastener set formed on a corresponding outer surface of the polygonal collar; and a mounting frame formed hollow, mounted around the second end of the tapered shell and having multiple attaching surfaces defining an opening for accommodating the second end of the tapered shell, each attaching surface having at least one mounting projection corresponding to and engaging a corresponding mounting slot to connect the mounting frame and the tapered shell; multiple exterior surfaces, each exterior surface aligning with a corresponding outer surface of the polygonal collar of the tapered shell in a plane; and multiple second fastener sets, each second fastener set formed on a corresponding exterior surface. 